Decorticating machine



Feb. 8, 1944. J. s. REEVES DECORTICATING MACHINE 3 Sheets- Shpet 1 INVENTOR- fi/HLS Reeves FiledJulyfiS, 1943 Feb. 8, 1944. J. s. REEVES DECORTICATING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BY -f0/uz .SReeves. (Zmwzm,

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"i" JNE- av a V tr I 1 w I' TZ Q35 Patented Feb'. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DECOBTICATING MACHINE John S. Reeves, Baltimore, Md. Application July as, 194:, Serial No. 495,397

16 Claims.

This invention relates to decorticating ma chines particularly adapted for the production of sisal, which i referred to hereinafter by way of illustration, but available for use for any other suitable purpose.

Sisal is produced from the leaves of various varieties of the agave family, such as sansevieria, cabulla, Maya, pita fioja, henequen, and the like. The long, relatively narrow leaves of these plants contain longitudinal white fibers which can be recovered by cleaning away the pulp, Juice, etc. This waste material, usually referred to .as b gasse, is stripped from the fibers in machines which hold the leaves while first amend and then the other end is cleaned. Moving blades act longitudinally of the leaves, which are preferably supported against rigid surfaces while they are scraped or rubbed by the blades. These blades and surfaces exert a squeezing effect which travels progressivel along the leaves toward their free ends, stripping away the bagasse. The clearance between the surfaces and blades must be very small to insure eflicient cleaning, 1. e., on the order of several thousandths of an inch.

In machines as heretofore proposed for accomplishing these operations, the leaves have usually been grinned and held at about the middle of their length byendless chain carriers which move them past the blades. These chains are expensive and tend to deteriorate rapidly in use. and are also dangerous to personnel. One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved machine of the type characterized above in which such chains are eliminated.

It has also been proposed to mount the blades on a wheel rotating on a horizontal axis. the

, zontai conveying table rotating on a vertical axis,

blades cooperating with a curved supporting surface concentric with the wheel. With this arrangement any wear of the wheel bearin s or shifting of the wheel axisior other reasons results in eccentricity of the blades'with respect to the curved support, causing either too little clearance with consequent breaking of the fibers and possibly contact of" the blades with the support, or too great clearance with unsatisfactory clean-- ing. Another object is to provide novel means for mounting such a wheel which permits delicate and accurate adjustment of the wheel axis both horizontally and vertically to maintain the de-v sired concentricity and clearance.

Another object is to provide novel means in conjunction'with a horizontal rotating table ior securely holding the leaves while first one end and then the other end is cleaned.

A further object is to supplement the usual ,movepast the right hand w scraping or squeezing action by washing and brushing so that a cleaner product is obtained.

Still further objects are in general to provide an improved machine of the type characterized above, simplifying the construction, reducing the number of parts and the number of moving elements and joints as well, eil'ecting savings in weight, cost, labor, and materials used, and increasing efllciency of operation.

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that said drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the .appended claims for this purpose. a

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a ma-- chine embodying the invention Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1, being partly in section;

Fig. .4 is a detail illustrating part of the leaf gripping and conveying means Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail of another part oi the leaf gripping and conveying means; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the-line l-toi Fig.7.

In general, the machine comprises a suitable frame I, the central part of which carries a horiand the two ends of which carry wheels rotating on horizontal axes and provided with scraping or squeezing blades as hereinafter described for cleaning in succession first one end and then the other end of the leaves. i v

The central conveying table has a peripheral surface of substantial vertifcal extent and preferably is built up from vertically spaced circular parts 2 and 3, which may be strengthened by lradial welded ribs .4 and 5 respectively, and which i are suitably interconnected to form a single) unit as by means of posts 6. This unit is keyedfto or otherwise connected to rotate with a vertical shaft i driven in any tric motor 8 mounted on top of the frame of the 9 machine. Leaves are fed manually or otherwise onto the table top 2 and gripped at it periphery with one end hanging down or clea ng as they eel assembly indicated generally by" the numeral Land thereafter for cleaning as they,

other ends hanging down suitable way, as by an elecmove past the left hand wheel assembly indicated generally by the numeral l0.

For gripping and holding the leaves on the upper table 2. I preferto employ the means shown in Figs. 1, 2. 4, and 6. Above the margin of the table 2 and following its periphery at the right hand side of the machine ls a fiat presser bar I l, the under surface of which is grooved to cooperate with Ia series of pins 12 projecting fromthe top of the rotating table. The bar II is pressed resiliently down toward the table top in any suitable manner, as by a pair of coil springs I3 interposed between it and the frame of the machine. As shown, the lower ends of these springs bear against the uppersurface of the bar, and their upper ends seat in cups l4 carried by bolts l5 which are secured in the frame. Toward the frontof the machine, the end of the bar H is flared upwardly as shown at l5 (Fig. 3).

At the side of the table 2 and surrounding its periphery at the right hand side of the machine is a second presser bar- I! which is pressed resiliently inward against the edge of the table in any suitable manner, as by a pair of coil springs i8. As shown, the inner ends of these springs bear against the bar l1, and their outer ends seat in cups l9 carried by bolts which are secured in the frame. At the front of the machine, the end of the bar I! is flared outwardly as shown at I'Ia (Fig. 2).

Preferably the gripping action between the bar II and pins I2 is supplemented by similar cooperation between the edgeof the table and the bar I'I. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the periphery of the table 2 is grooved at 2|, and the bar I! is provided with a rib 22 engaging in said groove. Also the upper part of the periphery of the table is provided with pins 23, the bar I! being grooved for cooperation therewith. These pins 23 are preferably spring-pressed as shown in Fig. 5, having shanks extending into recesses in the table and provided with collars 24 engaged by springs 25, the pins being held in the recesses and their projection from the table limited by nuts 26.

Leaves carried by the table into the mouth formed by the flared ends of the presser bars are gripped near the middle by the pins l2 and presser bar H, are bent sharply over the edge of the table and gripped between pins 23 and presser bar l1, and are forced into the groove 2| and held by the rib 22. As the leaves are carried toward the right handwheel assembly 9, their depending ends ride over a curved skirt 21, the leaves being ultimately bent outwardly under the presser bar i1 and between it and the top of the skirt 21 which supports the hanging ends of the leaves as they are being cleaned. Thus the leaves are held tightly and carried around with the table horizontally, and at the same time cannot slip under the vertically downward pull exerted on their depending ends by the cleaning action.

The wheel assembly 9 rotates on a shaft 28 mounted in bearing blocks 29 and concentric with the curved skirt or support 21. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3, said shaft carries a wheel comprising central discs 30 connected by spokes 3| with a wheel rim 32. The shaft and wheel are driven in any suitable manner, as by a belt 33 and motor 34. Secured to the rim 32 are aplurality of blades 35 which move downwardly over the leaves on the support 2'! and strip away the bagasse. As shown in Fig. 2, the edges of edges are also rounded, being of less height on the side of the wheel on which the leaves approach. This shape and disposition of the blades facilitates the desired progressive squeezing action on the leaves.

The shaft 28 also carries a second wheel comprising a disc 36, spokes 31, and a rim 28 carrying a plurality of brushes 39. As the leaves are carried past the path of the blades 35, they come under a water Jet at the same time that they reach the path of the brushes 39. The remaining bagasse and tow are removed by the washing and brushing action, leaving only the clean fiber.

The bearing blocks 29 are slidable toward or away from the table in a horizontal direction by means of screws 4| adjustable in brackets 42 secured to the frame. They are supported by a pair of oppositely disposed wedges 43, the large end of each wedge being engaged by an adjusting screw 44 threaded in the adjacent bracket 42. By these means very close and accurate adjustment can be made of the axis of rotation of the wheels, both horizontally and vertically, with the result that concentricity of the wheels with the support 21 and the necessary small clearance be- .tween the support and the blades 35 can be preserved at all times.

The presser bars II and I1 preferably extend to the back of the machine and overlap circumferentially with a similar presser bar 45 cooper- Eating with the periphery of the lower table 3 so that the depending cleaned fiber is gripped at the lower table periphery before the leaves are released at the upper table periphery. As shown at 46 in Fig. 2, the end of the bar 45 is flared outwardly to provide an entrance mouth for the fiber. Preferably the overlapping ends of the bars I! and 45 are resiliently pressed inwardly against the table by means of a plate 41 and a spring 48 the inner end of which engages said plate and the outer end of which is seated in a cup 49 carried by a bolt 50 mounted in a frame bracket 5 I. At the left hand side of the machine, the presser bar 45 is pressed resiliently in toward the table by a pair of coil springs 52 which are preferably like the springs l8 and hence need not be specifically described.

The preferred shapes of the presser bar 45 and of the lower table periphery are shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 8. The upper edge of the bar is turned over the edge of the table as indicated at 53. The periphery of the table is provided with a groove 54 like the groove 2| of the upper table, and a. rib 55 on the presser bar enters the groove. To aid in holding the fiber, the upp r p rt of the periphery of the table is preferably scalloped as indicated at 55 in Figs. 7 and 8.

At the back of the machine, the depending cleaned fiber is thus carried under the bar 45 and bent sharply over the edge of the table, is held by the scallops 55, and isforced into the groove 54 and held by the rib 55. The upper part of the leaf then passes out from under the presser bars II and I1 and is released. Suitable means are then provided for turning the upper ends of the leaves outwardly and downwardly so that they hang down over the bar 45. As shown, these means comprise a bar or rod 51 carried by a frame bracket 58 and having its and inserted betweenthe table peripheries 2 and 3 in the path of movement of the leaves which at this point extend between the two peripheries. The free ends of the leaves are thus pulled oil? the upper table and drop down into cleaning position hanging over the bar 45, in

which position they are carried on over the curved skirt or support 59 and between it and the left hand wheel assembly In. The axi of this assembly is somewhat lower than that of the shaft 28 to cooperate with the lower table 3 and support 59, but otherwise the left hand assembly preferably corresponds to the right hand assembly as to the shaft mounting, wheel con struction, blades 60, brushes 6i, water jet 62, etc;

The presser bar 45 terminates shortly after the cleaned fiber leaves the left hand wheel Ill, preferably in an outwardly flared end 63, after which the completely cleaned fiber may be removed from the machine.

It will be observed that leaves placed'on the upper table at the front of the machine are completely cleaned of bagasse and tow in a single pass through the machine, the clean fiber being removed at the end of the bar 45. All of the operations between loading and unloading are entirely automatic and require no service. The fibers are delivered from the machine in a washed and brushed and completely clean condition. The construction is simple, comprising relatively few moving elements and joints and consisting of parts which may be of rugged construction not subject to undue wear and not likely to get out of adjustment. Endless chains and complicated gripping devices are avoided. Th path of travel of the blades relative to the supports can be adjusted with nicety and accuracy to provide perfect concentricit'y and close, accurate clearances for any condition encountered in practice, and the resulting eificiency of operation can be maintained despite long use of th machines in hard service.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been-described and illustrated in the drawines, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is capable of embodiment in a variety of forms, and also that various changes may. be made in the form, details of construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference should therefore be made to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is: W

1. A machine of the. class described comprising a horizontal rotating table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, presser means coopcrating with the periphery of the table at one side for gripping and holding the leaves with one end hanging down, presser means cooperating with the periphery of the table at the other side and at a lower level for gripping the cleaned ends of the leaves, means for overturning the uncleaned ends to hang down from said second presser means, a curved support for the depending ends of the leaves at each side of said table, and a wheel assembly at each side of said table comprising cleaning elements cooperating with the adjacent support and rotating on a horizontal axis concentric with said support.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface of said table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, presser means cooperating with the upper periphery at one side for gripping and holding the leaves with one and hanging down, presser means cooperating with the lower table periphery at the other side for gripping the cleaned ends of the leaves, meansfor overturning the uncleaned ends to hang down from said second presser means, a curved support for the depending ends of the leaves at each side of said table. and a wheel assembly at each side of said table comprising cleaning elements cooperating with the adjacent support and rotating on a horizontal axis concentric with said support.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface of said table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, presser means cooperating with the upper periphery at one side for gripping and holding the leaves with one end hanging down, presser means cooperating with the lower table periphery at the other side for gripping the cleaned ends of the leaves, said presser means overlapping circumferentially whereby the cleaned ends are gripped before the uncleaned ends are released, means in the path of travel of th leaves subsequent to the overlapping portions of said presser means for overturning the uncleaned ends to hang down from said second presser means, a curved support for the depending ends of the leaves at each side of said table, and a wheel assembly at each side of said table comprising cleaning elements cooperating with the adjacent support and rotating on a horizontal axis concentric with said support.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface of said table adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, presser means cooperating with the upper periphery at one side for gripping and holding the leaves with one end hanging down, presser means cooperating with the lower table periphery at the other side for gripping the cleaned ends of the leaves, said presser means overlapping circumferentially whereby the cleaned ends are gripped before the uncleaned ends are released, an overturning bar extending between said peripheries at a point subsequent to the overlapping portions of said presser means, whereby the uncleaned ends are caused to hang down from said second presser means, a curved support for the depending ends of the leaves at each side of said table, and a wheel assembly at each side of said table comprising cleaning elements cooperating with the adjacent support and rotating on a horizontal axis concentric'with said support.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontalrotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means cooperating respectively with the upper and the lower periphery at circumferentially spaced points for gripping and holding leaves to be cleaned, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means, whereby th hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession.

6. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means are cleaned in succession, the gripping means at one of said peripheries comprising a presser bar resiliently urged toward the marginal upper surface of the table and having a groove in its under face, and pins projecting from the table surface and engaging in said groove.

7. A machine of the clas described comprising a horizontal rotating table'having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means cooperating respectively with the upper and the lower periphery at circumferentially spaced points for gripping and holding leaves to be cleaned, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means, whereby the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession, the gripping means at one of said peripheries comprising a curved presser bar resiliently urged toward said periphcry and having an inwardly extending rib, said periphery being grooved to receive said rib.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means cooperating respectively with the upper and the lower periphery at circumferentially spaced points for gripping'and holding leaves to be cleaned, leaf cleaning means adjacent each ing a curved presser bar resiliently urged toward said periphery and having a groove and a projecting rib on its inner face, said periphery having a plurality of pins engaging in said groove and a groove to receive said rib.

9. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means cooperating respectively with the upper and the lower periphery at circumferentially spaced points for gripping and holding leaves to be cleaned, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means, whereby'the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession, the gripping means 'at one of said peripheries comprising a curved presser bar resiliently urged toward said periphery and a plurality of pins projecting from said periphery and cooperating with the inner surface of said bar, said pins being housed in recesses inthe table and resiliently urged outwardly with retaining means holding them in said recesses.

10. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means cooperating respectively with the upper and the lower periphery at circumferentially spaced points for gripping and holding leaves to be cleaned, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said leaves are cleaned in succession, the gripping means at one of said peripheries comprising a bar curved to cooperate with and resiliently urged toward said periphery and having a flange over the upper margin of the table surface.

11. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table having vertically spaced peripheries, the upper surface adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means cleaning means, whereby the hanging ends of the 1s cooperating respectively with the upper and the lower periphery at circumferentially spaced points for gripping and holding leaves to be cleaned, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means, whereby the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession, saidgripping means at one of said peripheries comprising two presser bars one urged resiliently down toward the upper marginal surface of the table and the othercurved to cooperate with and urged resiliently inward toward said periphery. I

12. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table the .upper surface of which is adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means at circumferentially spaced points cooperating with the periphery of said table at upper and lower levels respectively, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the-leaves between said cleaning means whereby the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession, said cleaning means comprising a curved support for the hanging ends of the leaves, and a wheel rotating on a horizontal axis concentric with said support and carrying blades cooperating with said support.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table the upper surface of which is adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means at circumferentially spaced points cooperating with the periphery of said table at upper and lower levels respectively, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in'the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means whereby the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession, said cleaning means comprising a curved support for the hanging ends of the leaves, and cleaning elements cooperating with said support and mounted to revolve in a path concentric therewith.- I

14. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table the upper surface of a which is adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means at circumferentially spaced points cooperating with the periphery of said table at upper and lower levels respectively,

leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means whereby the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession, said cleaning means comprising a curved support for the hanging ends of the leaves, blades cooperating with said support and mounted to revolve in a path concentric therewith, and brushes mounted to revolve side by side with said blades and engaging said leaves after they move past said blades.

15. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table the upper surface of which is adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means at circumferentially spaced points cooperating with the periphery of 7 said table at upperand lower levels respectively,

leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping stream of washing water on the leaves in the path of said brushes. v 16. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal rotating table the upper surface of which is adapted to receive leaves to be cleaned, leaf gripping means at circumferentially spaced points cooperating with the periphery of said table at upper and lower levels respectively, leaf cleaning means adjacent each gripping means for cleaning the hanging ends of leaves carried thereby, and leaf overturning means in the path of travel of the leaves between said cleaning means whereby the hanging ends of the leaves are cleaned in succession. said cleaning means comprising a curved support for the hanging ends of the leaves, a wheel assembly carrying cleaning elements and having its axis concentrio with said support, and means for adjustably mounting said wheel assembly to maintain said concentricity comprising bearing blocks adjustable toward and away from said table in a horizontal direction and relatively movable oppositely disposed wedges supporting said bearing blocks.

JOHN S. REEVES. 

